I am still experiencing this issue, I set the remote to RF mode and then maybe 15 minutes or so later the remote goes back to IR mode. A little frustrating as the IR control can be flaky sometimes because of where the TiVo sits.

-TL

Get the new slide remote or stick to IR. My original remote was (is) having this problem. Got the new slide and haven't had a problem since.

Although the possibility exists that its an interference issue, I suspect its a software bug, most likely with the remote receiver on the Roamio.

I can confirm that the remote control DOES NOT transmit IR normally when it is in RF mode (exception when sending commands to the TV for volume/mute), you can confirm this yourself by taking a digital camera (cell phone works fine EXCEPT Apple products) and point the remote at the remote, you'll see the IR LEDs light up for the volume controls but not for other buttons when in RF mode. What I'll have to do is next time the problem shows up is see if the remote falls back to IR mode (I believe it does).

Part of the reason I say I don't believe its interference is because of how consistently the TiVo recovers from the RF failure, either point the remote directly at the TiVo and press any button, or press a button several times (4 or 5 times) on the remote and the Roamio will begin to respond again. If it was RF interference I'd expect the failure to last longer and not respond to the same recovery method consistently.

Although the possibility exists that its an interference issue, I suspect its a software bug, most likely with the remote receiver on the Roamio.
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Part of the reason I say I don't believe its interference is because of how consistently the TiVo recovers from the RF failure, either point the remote directly at the TiVo and press any button, or press a button several times (4 or 5 times) on the remote and the Roamio will begin to respond again. If it was RF interference I'd expect the failure to last longer and not respond to the same recovery method consistently.

It can't be a pure software bug. There are thousands of Roamios out there now, all with the exact same software as you, and those folks are not seeing the problem.

What it can be, is interference that TiVo might be able to work around by making the software more robust to errors caused by interference.

The root cause has to be either interference, or hardware. I.e., there has to be something in your particular setup that is sparking the problem.

It can't be a pure software bug. There are thousands of Roamios out there now, all with the exact same software as you, and those folks are not seeing the problem.

What it can be, is interference that TiVo might be able to work around by making the software more robust to errors caused by interference.

The root cause has to be either interference, or hardware. I.e., there has to be something in your particular setup that is sparking the problem.

Actually I'm more inclined to say software bug, I've now recreated the problem on 3 different units in my home, all in different areas. One of the units took some doing to recreate the problem since the TiVo is almost always in direct view of the remote control, I had to hide the remotes LEDs from the Roamio before the problem would show, and at that it shows up inconsistently.

To me it sounds like the remote and the TiVo loose sync and an IR command will trigger a resync automatically or after enough button presses in RF mode they will resync.

The nice things about bugs is you need to figure out what triggers them and not everybody is going to trigger the same bug.

The nice things about bugs is you need to figure out what triggers them and not everybody is going to trigger the same bug.

I agree, and I claim that you've pretty conclusively proved that you have interference somewhere in or around your house triggering your bug.

I see no way that software can trigger your bug, and not trigger the bug on thousands of other Roamios with identical software. A TiVo is not like a desktop PC, where every PC is running at least a slightly different set of software. All TiVos that match your model are running a bit-for-bit identical set of software - there are no differences in the software. And 99% of users out there are not reporting the problem.

Your experimentation has shown the possibility of hardware differences causing your problems is very unlikely. That only leaves something in your environment affecting the TiVo. It's unlikely, though I suppose remotely possible, that it could be electrical power or too strong of a cable signal. The most likely cause is interference somewhere in the RF spectrum, and nothing you've shown argues against that.

I agree, and I claim that you've pretty conclusively proved that you have interference somewhere in or around your house triggering your bug.

If its some sort of (RF) interference in my home causing it then why allowing the TiVo a single IR command cause the RF communications to resume again? If it was some sort of RF interference then I wouldn't expect a single IR command to reliably cause the RF remote to resume *EVERY* time.

Also reading through other threads there appears to be mention from TiVo that they were aware of this problem, although there was mention that a fix was pushed out, do you think its possible that this fix was incomplete?

I have also found other users that have the same issue and have found that the same recovery method works for them.

Interestingly, my remote has the opposite problem: it insists on using RF, and won't stay in IR mode for more than a minute or two, if I'm lucky. The reason I want IR mode is so I can program the A-D buttons onto another learning remote.

I have an old Tivo remote that I was able to use to program all the rest of the buttons, but it doesn't have the A-D buttons.

If its some sort of (RF) interference in my home causing it then why allowing the TiVo a single IR command cause the RF communications to resume again? If it was some sort of RF interference then I wouldn't expect a single IR command to reliably cause the RF remote to resume *EVERY* time.

Also reading through other threads there appears to be mention from TiVo that they were aware of this problem, although there was mention that a fix was pushed out, do you think its possible that this fix was incomplete?

I have also found other users that have the same issue and have found that the same recovery method works for them.

Yes this is the definition of a bug.

-TL

I have been having the same problem w/ my Roamio. TiVo sent me a new remote and I thought it was working OK but it quickly reverted to the same behavior. RF works for a few button presses but then shifts into IR mode. Sometimes I can get it back nto RF by turning the remote a certain way. I connect the Roamio on Ethernet and have Panasonic Dect 6.0+ cordless phones in use.

I don't what RF frequency TiVo is using but I can't believe they designed a remote to conflict w/ Wi-Fi or cordless phones. I hope it's a s/w problem that will get fixed at some point.

I have confirmed that the sub is using the 2.4GHz band. Will this conflict with the Roamio radio?

Dunno, I'm guessing the wireless remote is also in the 2.4GHz band so there is a chance that it will.

TiVo has since RMA'd my original Roamio and the problem still exists, no surprise, but now I have 2 spare remotes, the one they sent when I first called about the problem in hopes that it fixed the problem, and then the remote with the replacement TiVo, I kept that remote too since the return instructions said to only ship the DVR not the accessories.

I figure remotes tend to fail as they get older so now I have some spares. Not sure what i'm going to do with a spare power cord. :-)

I have the Roamio Pro DVR and the remote is horrible. It doesn't always respond unless you aim the remote directly to the DVR. The RF mode is activated and I am on my second remote now. Tivo sent a replacement and it exhibits the same behavior. The RF mode does work sometimes but not consistently. I have reset the DVR as well. I called Tivo last night and we reset the remote which didn't change the behavior. They are suggesting that the Pro unit might be defective and wanted to send me a replacement. I find it hard to believe the box would be defective as everything else works fine except for bugs in the software. I worked out a deal with Tivo to send me a slide remote in hopes this will work better than the factory remote. I also have a remote from my previous Premiere DVR and it works fine with the Roamio but doesn't have the RF function. I wanted to get some opinions from other users as to whether you think the remote is the problem or if I have a bad box.

I too have the same RF issue, TiVo ended up replacing the Roamio and the problem has not been eliminated.

I actually have 2 Roamio's here and have reproduced the problem on both units.

Reading through some older posts it looks like there was some acknowledgement from TiVo that "some" users were experiencing issues and that a software update solved the issue. I contend that the fix drastically curtailed the problem but did not eliminate them.

On a side note the replacement unit doesn't seem to suffer as badly with the RF remote problem as the original unit did.

I too have the same RF issue, TiVo ended up replacing the Roamio and the problem has not been eliminated.

I actually have 2 Roamio's here and have reproduced the problem on both units.

Reading through some older posts it looks like there was some acknowledgement from TiVo that "some" users were experiencing issues and that a software update solved the issue. I contend that the fix drastically curtailed the problem but did not eliminate them.

On a side note the replacement unit doesn't seem to suffer as badly with the RF remote problem as the original unit did.

-TL

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Just got off the phone with Tivo and they insist the box is bad. My fear is that I get a replacement and will have the same problem. Can you elaborate on your exact issues with the old one verses the new unit? How much of an improvement is the new unit over the old one? I have to believe that there is still a software glitch that affects some users. There has also been mention of a bad RF module in the box itself.

Just got off the phone with Tivo and they insist the box is bad. My fear is that I get a replacement and will have the same problem. Can you elaborate on your exact issues with the old one verses the new unit? How much of an improvement is the new unit over the old one? I have to believe that there is still a software glitch that affects some users. There has also been mention of a bad RF module in the box itself.

Thanks

The "new" unit does not appear to loose the RF signal as often, but when it does a single IR command to the Roamio restores the RF signal.

The good news is you'll now have a spare remote as TiVo only wants the old DVR returned back the return instructions say not to return any of the accessories, cables, or paperwork.

I have had this problem off and on since August. After the remote screwed up last night and I could not get it to stop fast forwarding through the final 1 minute of the Arizona vs Wisconsin overtime I finally bought the slide remote today. I hope that provides a fix. Seems to be about the only idea that has produced some results. Crazy I have to spend $60 to get my Roamio to work.

my problem started when Tivo replaced my 1 month old Roamio Pro with a new one because of an unrelated problem: the new box resolved that problem but now I have the remote switching back and forth RF to IR issue: on all 3 remotes: it happens within 5 feet range from the Tivo: the room has plenty of potential interference sources including a WAP

but the original box was flawless with regard to RF remote control: so I traded one issue for another

Is this resolved? I have the same issue (won't stay in RF mode).
The crazy thing is that I seem to have two unrelated problems (I might not be alone).

My setup is all of my AV equipment is in a cabinet about 15ft from the couch.

Problem 1) I cannot just use RF all the time because it doesn't stay in RF mode along with many others. So the remote works fine for 10-15 presses then it goes to IR mode and does nothing.

Now the weird thing is I wouldn't care, since I have a good IR repeater setup. IR works for everything else (AV receiver, DVD player) but it doesn't work at all for the Tivo. If I set up my Harmony remote for Tivo mode (IR only remote) it works with line of site to the Tivo but not over the repeater; it fails in IR transmission the same way the RED led button pushes on my tivo remote do.

problem 2) I cannot seem to IR repeat the Tivo using either the Tivo remote or my Harmony remote.

If either worked I wouldn't care. RF is ok, I would just put down the Harmony remote and use the Tivo remote for watching tv (volume controls ALWAYS work since it sends IR signals that work fine with the AV reciever). Or, if IR worked I could use either remote and just disable the RF.

Earlier in this thread everyone was poo-pooing the guy who said the IR repeating didn't work and I can confirm it doesn't. I am using a high-end Xantech repeater that works with anything else.

I continue to have Problem #1. If I sit on the couch and use the remote, it works in RF sporadically and usually only if I hold it in a certain position. However, I can get up and move to another room and it works dependably! TiVo replaced the remote months ago but both remotes have the same problem. I have 5GHz cordless phones in the room but even after moving the handsets far away the problem persists. The other rooms where the remote does work in RF also have phone extensions in them so I don't think that is the problem. Nor is my 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless router.

It's very strange and I've just learned to put up with it since no solution seems to be forthcoming. Luckily, I do have line-of-sight to the TiVo from a position on the couch so I'm wondering if it somehow that causes it to revert to IR and not stay in RF mode.

I continue to have Problem #1. If I sit on the couch and use the remote, it works in RF sporadically and usually only if I hold it in a certain position. However, I can get up and move to another room and it works dependably! TiVo replaced the remote months ago but both remotes have the same problem. I have 5GHz cordless phones in the room but even after moving the handsets far away the problem persists. The other rooms where the remote does work in RF also have phone extensions in them so I don't think that is the problem. Nor is my 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless router.

Can you just remove power from the cordless phones for testing purposes? And maybe try the same with the wireless router? Are there any surfaces in the TV room that might be reflective to RF? Maybe a section of wall covered in metal or metal foil on insulating board under drywall or whatever? I suppose it's possible that you could get multipath interference in the signal from the RF remote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmbissell

It's very strange and I've just learned to put up with it since no solution seems to be forthcoming. Luckily, I do have line-of-sight to the TiVo from a position on the couch so I'm wondering if it somehow that causes it to revert to IR and not stay in RF mode.

I'm not sure how the choice between RF and IR is made. Does the TiVo always listen for both and then ignore the IR signal if an (intelligible) RF signal is also received?